Tyrants in the Classroom

Tomorrow in our Teaching Creative Writing class, my friend Megan and I are going to be leading discussion on "Charming Tyrants and Faceless Facilitators: The Lore of Teaching Identities in Creative Writing". It's an interesting article that deals with misconceptions of identities when it comes to professors.

While pursuing her M.F.A.Mary Ann Cain talked about the tough decision of choosing between her Composition Theory class and a class with Famous (Pulitzer Prize winning) Author (The famous author in question was Toni Morrison, pictured to the right). Everyone thought the decision would be an easy one, that she should obviously choose the class with Famous Author. But by the time Famous Author's class had started (four weeks after all the other class), she had already done a lot of work for her Comp. Theory class. Cain really wanted to take Famous Authors class of "select" students, wanted  Famous Author to be The Mentor who could personally help Cain take her writing to a new level. However, Famous Author was looking more and more like a tyrant as everyone Cain spoke with about her class dilemma insisted that she drop the Comp. Theory class.

Turns out, Famous Author was anything but a tyrant. She gave Cain a call and worked out a way for her to be a part of both classes.  How awesome is that?

So, basically, maybe that professor you hate or are terrified of or are frustrated with isn't the tyrant you think they may be. That's usually what I've discovered...sometimes.

I don't know, do you guys have tyrants for professors, or are they sort of faceless facilitators, teachers who completely give their power over to the students. As with all things, balance people, it's all about the balance.

BK